DRIVE Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 1288

119th Congress

DRIVE Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jun 26, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Julia Brownley

Representative

Democratic

CA-26

Cosponsors

3

Quick Stats

Policy Area

International Affairs

Summary

This bill would authorize the President to impose sanctions on countries that are grossly negligent with their chemical or biological weapons programs. If the President determines a country was negligent, he must impose initial sanctions, and can then impose more severe sanctions if the country does not take adequate steps to address the issue. The bill also requires the President to determine if China meets the criteria for gross negligence.

Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

SponsorJulia Brownley (D-CA)

Introduced6/26/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

DRIVE Act of 2025

This bill would authorize the President to impose sanctions on countries that are grossly negligent with their chemical or biological weapons programs. If the President determines a country was negligent, he must impose initial sanctions, and can then impose m

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This bill would authorize the President to impose sanctions on countries that are grossly negligent with their chemical or biological weapons programs. If the President determines a country was negligent, he must impose initial sanctions, and can then impose more severe sanctions if the country does not take adequate steps to address the issue. The bill also requires the President to determine if China meets the criteria for gross negligence.

Bill Number: 1288
Sponsor: Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Introduced: 6/26/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Policy Area: International Affairs

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: DRIVE Act of 2025
Bill Number: 1288
Sponsor: Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced: 6/26/2025
Summary: This bill would authorize the President to impose sanctions on countries that are grossly negligent with their chemical or biological weapons programs. If the President determines a country was negligent, he must impose initial sanctions, and can then impose more severe sanctions if the country does

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would authorize the President to impose sanctions on countries that are grossly negligent with their chemical or biological weapons programs. If the President determines a country was negligent, he must impose initial sanctions, and can then impose more severe sanctions if the country does not take adequate steps to address the issue. The bill also requires the President to determine if China meets the criteria for gross negligence.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act This bill authorizes initial, intermediate, and final sanctions against countries that act grossly negligent (i.e., knew or should have known that an act or acts would harm another foreign state) with respect to a chemical or biological weapons program. If the President determines that a country acted with gross negligence, the President must impose the initial sanctions (e.g., suspending scientific cooperative programs and restricting U.S. government contracting with entities operating in chemical or biological sectors of a sanctioned country) within 30 days. Within 120 days of making the determination of gross negligence, the President must determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose intermediate sanctions (e.g., terminating most foreign aid and prohibiting arms transactions). Within 210 days of making the determination of gross negligence, the President must again determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose final sanctions (e.g., prohibiting certain transactions in foreign exchange or transfers of credit or payment). The sanctions may be removed 12 months after the initial sanctions were imposed if the President certifies a country adequately redressed the sanctionable conduct. The bill also authorizes waivers of the sanctions, subject to certain restrictions. Furthermore, the President must determine and report to Congress about whether China meets the criteria for gross negligence with respect to its chemical or biological weapons program.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Authorizes sanctions against countries deemed grossly negligent with chemical or biological weapons programs
Requires the President to impose increasingly severe sanctions if a country does not adequately address the issue
Directs the President to determine if China meets the criteria for gross negligence

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill could impact diplomatic and economic relations between the U.S. and countries with chemical or biological weapons programs, particularly China. If sanctions are imposed, it could disrupt trade, scientific cooperation, and other areas of engagement between the U.S. and sanctioned countries.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

International Affairs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1288, 119th Congress (2025). "DRIVE Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1288

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